A GROUP OF 35 Russian tourists were safely rescued from their double-decker boat sailing near Koh Sak island, close to Koh Larn off Pattaya, this morning (March 18) after the vessel started releasing billows of thick black smoke into the sky due to engine malfunction, Amarin TV said.
At 10 a.m. the Marine Disaster Prevention Division at this seaside city was notified of a tourist boat initially believed to have caught fire in the middle of the sea near Koh Sak and quickly sent rescue and fire boats there.
Approximately 500 metres from this island they found the tourist boat, named “Pattaya Bay Cruise” with the hull longer than 70 feet, pouring black smoke from under the hull where the engine room was believed to be located. The smoke floated high into the sky and could be seen from a distance.
After rescuers and the captain examined the engine room they found out that no fire had broken out but the exhaust system had malfunctioned leading to the black smoke billowing out.
The 35 Russian tourists who were heading for Koh Sak were swiftly transferred to another boat.
The captain later explained that the exhaust pipe had detached from the engine leading to black smoke pouring out but there was no fire.
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The double-decker tourist boat carrying 35 Russian holidaymakers billowing black smoke into the sky and tourists being rescued. Photos: Amarin TV
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